The Hall of Fame is a celebration of historic Hibernian careers and achievements.

JIMMY MCCOLL

Position Centre Forward & Trainer

There are few who have served the game with greater distinction than Jimmy McColl. Once described as one of Scotland's greatest ever football personalities, for well over 50 years McColl was a fixture at Easter Road both as a player and later as a valued member of the backroom staff.

Jimmy McColl. Inducted in 2017.

Part of the Celtic side that defeated Hibs in the 1914 Scottish Cup Final, McColl scoring two of the goals in the 4-1 replayed victory, he would win five league championship medals with the Parkhead side before a move to Stoke City for the then astronomical fee of £2,500. However, failing to settle in the Potteries he soon returned to Scotland to sign for Partick Thistle.

The Hibs manager Alex Maley saw McColl as the answer to the problem centre forward position in a great side that was beginning to take shape at Easter Road, and resisting a concerted effort by Celtic to lure the player back to Parkhead, McColl's move to Easter Road in 1922 saw him part of the celebrated side that contested the 1923 and 1924 Scottish Cup Finals. For the prolific McColl it was goals all the way and he would later become the first Hibs player to score 100 league goals for the club.

After a short spell as player-manager of Leith Athletic and later as manager of Belfast Celtic where he led the Irish club to league championship success, in 1937 he returned to Easter Road as assistant trainer to Hugh Shaw.

After Willie McCartney's death in February 1948, Hugh Shaw was installed as manager and Jimmy McColl first team trainer. It was the beginning of a golden era for Hibernian as the team was fronted by the Famous Five, with the side becoming the most successful in the club's long and illustrious history.

During the early 1970's, and then almost 80 years of age, Jimmy McColl was still involved at Easter Road under Eddie Turnbull and was the only person to be connected with what is generally accepted to be Hibs three great sides, that of the mid 1920s, the Famous Five era and the Turnbull's Tornadoes.

In a short ceremony before a friendly fixture against German side Schalke at Easter Road in 1971 watched by all the Famous Five, Jimmy McColl was presented with a watch in recognition of the 50 years spent in the service of the club.

In all McColl served the club as a player, assistant trainer, trainer, reserve team manager and finally odd job man around the ground. He died in Edinburgh on 7th March 1978 aged 86, the club losing one of its finest ever servants, and Scotland one of its greatest personalities.